We recently connected with Dannie Saines III Aka Bleezie and have shared our conversation below.
Dannie Saines III, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I think I always knew somewhere in my mind that I wanted to pursue a creative path, but it wasn’t until I lost my job as a vinyl installer late 2019 that I decided to put all my time into my craft. I wasn’t about to wait around or keep struggling while trying to find another job. So instead I was drawing, painting, making logos even but, somewhere in the midst I started to practice tattooing. Spending all the time I could improving anywhere I knew how. Finding somewhere to apprentice was more difficult than it seemed but, I kept looking and before I knew it I looked up and finally found somewhere to grow with likeminded Artists in 2021 at Immortal Ink Tattoo Gallery. Still continuing my journey in the same building on 2nd St today.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Getting into the Tattoo industry is a Journey on its on. If I’m being completely honest I still feel as if I’m working my into the industry today. I can know how to tattoo all day long but it all comes down to networking, when they say “it’s not what you know its who you know” I could almost consider that the golden rule for any business owner or creative. I could almost say the same for discipline as for as still working on that journey. It’s truly a learning experience. Tattooing is a beautiful craft that will teach you patience more than anything, something I admittedly had a problem with, you learn how to read peoples emotions and empathize when necessary. This list could go on. I love having the ability to allow people to express themselves through art, the service I provide I feel is about more than pretty flowers and fancy photos, its about giving people the ability to be creative, expressing themselves and their beliefs, memorializing loved ones, setting memories in stone, all through art, and if I have the ability to make it look as close to your vision as possible, Im honored when trusted to do so. I honestly don’t think Im the same as many artist not because of my ability, but because of the fact that I genuinely feel that I was put here to do exactly this. Id been drawing on people arms and legs since elementary school all the way through highschool, Tattooing never once occurred to me until 2017-18, now tattooing to me is like oxygen, Ill be tattooing until my hands give out. More than anything, Im proud of how much Ive learned in such little time, and it only excites me further to see how far I can go.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an Artist will always be the ability to bring a mental vision into something physically visible. Artist have shaped the world in ways that would have made us a completely different world in its entire without them. The Artists and Creatives before me are something that I’m more than honored to be a part of, but more than anything I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to allow people the opportunity to express themselves through body art. You meet so many new people and gain so much perspective on life just from making these connections. Regardless of if they realize it in that moment, you made an impact on that persons life. Knowing that it was a positive impact, makes being an artist more worth it than anything.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When I graduated from high-school I got a job at Craftsmen Industries as a Vinyl Installer. Basically just wrapping vehicles and placing decals. I honestly thought thats what I was gonna be doing for the rest of my life. In 2019 I was let go from my vinyl installation job and had to find another source of income. While looking for another job to match or exceed my previous income, I spent a-lot of time working on my craft. The support system I had behind me is what made this possible, without them i wouldn’t be where I am today. Those tight nit friends that out their trust in my and allowed me the opportunity to practice on them with no question. Their belief in me taught me to believe in myself, and thats when my life took its turn. After two years of searching and practicing I found myself at the grand opening of Immortal Ink Tattoo Gallery. Funny thing is I didn’t have a car at the time. My significant other, allowed me to drag her and her car downtown with a full blown migraine because she saw how adamant I was on being at this Grand opening. We were originally there to show support to a fellow artist who had been making his way into the industry for a while, going by the name of Vaughngoh. However, Shawn Smith approached me and asked iif I had work to show him because he was looking for artist and I’d inquired about the opportunity months ago, Id just never been the type to wait so I essentially chalked it up at the time. Then in that same moment Shawn introduced me to Chico, Co-owner of Immortal and Owner of multiple other shops. Chico took one look at my work, and in that same breath told me to be at the shop on Tuesday for work. That was it, everything Id been working so hard to accomplish was about to start paying off. Since then Ive been in Immortal learning, growing and continuing to expand my craft with likeminded individuals. I haven’t worked a 9-5 since then. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities I didn’t pass up that put me where I am today, I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bleeziewashere?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bleeziewashere?_t=8V5B2usKlqM&_r=1&fbclid=PAAaY5cXTLplFxfdfoUawSQ4Hr24O0s4c21hNFGvmKERz6vkzkslAuKypIpHM_aem_th_AeEW6VwtLkRtsSPAkCm4pWj8NfBLCpMug5CGo1sH3JUkTwOCT7VB0otCJhf9e2J7jag
Image Credits
Photos taken by: @treparmalee @inkby_bmillz @shawnsmithtattoo